DAIRY CONTROL BOARD

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLVI, Issue 104, 1 April 1926, Page 5

DAIRY CONTROL BOARD

AGENCY IN SOUTH ISLAND

Per Press Association

DUNEDIN, March 31. The Now Zealand Dairy Produce Control Board has accepted the offer of tho South Island Dairy Association to do tho wholo of tho board’s work in three centres, namely, Dunedin, Bluff and Lyttelton. A sub-commit-too of the board, which was appointed to investigate this matter, reported recommending tho acceptance. of the offer as it showed a very considerable saving to tho board compared with the estimated cost of establishing separate offices. The work will include attending to all shipping, insurance, advances to factories, drafts, advances against warrants, checking of all documents, keeping all records required by board, and all other work incidental to this, together, with submitting to tho head office of the board in Wellington all returns as required as from August 1, 1926. DAIRY FARMERS TO MEET. WELLINGTON, March 31. It is said by opponents that tho present system of election of members of tho Dairy Control Board is entirely unsatisfactory, and is heartily disapproved by the dairying industry from North Capo to the Bluff. Even the board itself admits that the method is unsatisfactory, and tho Government has promised to introduce amending legislation as soon as Parliament meets. In order to discuss the matter fully and make recommendations to the Government, a conference of dairy farmers’ representatives from tho whole Dominion will bo held at Wellington on April 28. It will probably be the most momentous meeting ever held in New Zealand in connection with dairy produce control. MANAWATU RABBIT BOARD. MONTHLY MEETING. The monthly meeting of the Manawatu Rabbit Board was held at Foxton, on Monday, being presided ovor by the chairman, Mr B. G. Gower. There wore also present: Messrs W. E. Rarbcr T. A. Grammar, J. F. MclCelvio, R. Boswell, D. Fleming, F. G. Raikes, J. Gloyn and the inspector (M. Eau-on). Correspondence was read from tho Foxton Beach Improvement Connnilteo advising that tho Tangimoana Society had been asked to co-operate in the matter of excluding tho two townships from the Manawatu Rabbit District. It was pointed out that tho area asked to be excluded at Foxton was about 500 acres a>*d about 300 at Tangimoana. Mr Barbor said it would bo unfair to tho adjoining land holders to exclude these areas from the operations of the board. Mr Fleming said that the Harbour Board at Foxton and Government at Tangimoana would bo responsible for tho payment of rates on unoccupied land at the localities. The secretary said lie had no difficulty in collecting the rate from tho Foxton occupiers of sections as it was includod in the harbour notices, but difficulty would bo experienced at Tangimoana as he did not have a list of occupiers. Tho total sum to he collected from both places would bo about £l2 per annum. Tho stated that he was unaware, when the motion was passed to exempt the seaside settlements, that so largo an area of land was involved. These places could ho excluded from tho board’s district if and when they becaino townships or boroughs. As the localities still harboured rabbits they would ni»ve to bo dealt with ns in other parts of the area. Tho board unanimously approved a motion to rescind the previous rojolution to excludo tho Manawatu and Tangimoana seasido settlements from too rabbit board district and tho secretary was instructed to advise tho committeos in tho respective settlements.

It was decided! to contribute £2 0s 6d towards defraying tho cost of tho conference expenses. Mr Itaikes who, together with tho chairman, represented the board at the recent conference’ tabled tho remits and was accorded u hearty vote of thanks. Tho chairman stated that Mr Raikes had been elected a member of the conference executive. Mr Raikes submitted tho proposed constitution and rules to govern tho rabbit boards’ association and it was resolved to defer discussion of same until next meeting. Accounts amounting to £73 14s 8d wore passed for payment. Tho inspector reported:—During tho past month I have been engaged. in following up ‘with personal inspection . tho general poisoning advised the previous month. In the great majority of cases poisoning is now completed except on some properties, which tho material is not yet available for carrying out strychnine poisoning. The most successful poisoning has been with strychninod t carrots, phosphorisod pollard not being very successful this season, except in. a few isolated cases, these exceptions being on the “cover” country. On a certain number of properties at present trapping at burrows and consequent filling in is being carried out with beneficial results, and provided this work is carried out systematically on certain country, and trappers are paid for the work, good results must accrue: Owing to tho -continued dry weather experienced, breeding has . been going on apace, much more than is general at this time of tho year, and I would impress upon farmers the necessity for following up this last poisoning with consistent work, in order to put a check on the increased brooding which has taken place. On country which has been regularly poisoned, and from which trapping has been oxcluded tho increaso in the number of stoats and weasels is very evident,' and tho destruction of young rabbits by those natural enemies is of immense benefit to tho district. I would recommend that a road poisoning, preferably with strychninod carrots, bo put in hand from Himatangi to a point below Bainese. During the coming month I shall bo engaged in tho general'inspection of properties in the board’s area. —Foxton correspondent.